ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani official said on Thursday the United Arab Emirates had largely halted issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, raising alarms about potential strains in the longstanding economic and cultural ties between the two nations, even as Emirati diplomats insisted no outright ban was in place and touted recent reforms to ease the process.
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Gen. Mirza retires as Pakistan dissolves Joint Chiefs, awaits new defence chief
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s most far-reaching reorganisation of its higher defence apparatus in nearly half a century took effect at midnight Thursday with the formal abolition of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, a position that had provided the navy and air force with institutional representation at the pinnacle of military decision-making since 1976.
PTI calls for family visit, official statement on jailed Imran Khan’s health amid viral rumours
ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party called on the government on Thursday to dispel persistent rumours about the health of its imprisoned founder, Imran Khan, and to allow his family to meet with him, as unverified claims about the former prime minister’s condition spread across social media and drew attention from some foreign outlets.
Omar Ayub Khan declared proclaimed offender by anti-terror court
ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday declared opposition leader and former finance minister Omar Ayub Khan a proclaimed offender after he repeatedly failed to appear in connection with charges linked to a violent protest last year, escalating legal pressure on allies of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Officials deny rumours of Imran Khan’s transfer from prison, citing his good health
RAWALPINDI: Officials at Adiala jail on Wednesday dismissed circulating rumours that Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and former prime minister, had been moved out of the facility, insisting that he remained inside the prison and was in good health.
Bahrain awards highest honour to PM Sharif as states eye $1bn trade goal
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was awarded Bahrain’s highest civilian honor on Wednesday during a state visit aimed at bolstering economic ties between the two nations, as leaders from both sides pledged to elevate bilateral trade to $1 billion within three years amid discussions on defence cooperation and regional stability.
UN report warns of escalating heat risks in Asia’s megacities, with Karachi among the most
KARACHI: A new United Nations report released on Wednesday paints a stark picture of escalating heat risks across Asia and the Pacific, identifying Karachi and eight other densely populated megacities as particularly susceptible to extreme temperatures that could intensify in the coming decades, amplifying threats to public health, equity and infrastructure.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman denounces laws on domestic violence, child marriage and transgender rights
ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the influential leader of the conservative and pro-Taliban Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl party, on Tuesday criticised a series of recent legislative measures in Pakistan aimed at curbing domestic violence, prohibiting child marriages and advancing transgender rights, framing them as departures from Islamic principles and undue influences from international bodies.
PSL’s Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen quits after PCB declines renewal
LAHORE: Ali Khan Tareen stepped down as owner of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans on Tuesday after failing to receive a renewal offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while the league’s other five teams extended their agreements for another 10 years.
ICC places India, Pakistan in same T20 World Cup group, clash set for Colombo
KARACHI: India and Pakistan, the nuclear-armed neighbors whose cricket rivalry often transcends sport, have been drawn into the same group for the T20 World Cup, setting up a high-stakes clash on Feb. 15 in Colombo, the International Cricket Council announced on Tuesday.